Drawn from early volumes of Aerospace America and its antecedents, this book rescues the insights, concerns, and dreams of dozens of space propulsion experts for the next generation of aerospace scientists and engineers. Written by well-known figures in space propulsion, this book provides readily accessible source material for design courses in astronautical engineering. Propulsion Techniques surveys the technologies of rocketry in the traditional categories of liquid, solid, hybrid, nuclear, and electric propulsion. Historical trends and cycles are displayed in each category as articles describe concepts and progress from the early visions of Goddard, Oberth, and Tsiolkovsky to proposed (and re-proposed) ideas for advanced space thrusters. In addition to descriptions of rocket engines of various types, associated technologies for propellants and space-electrical power systems are discussed.

Part 1 Early Lights: Rocket-Inspired Visions; Three Astronautical Pioneers - Goddard, Tsiolkovskii, Oberth. Part 2 Liquid Propulsion: Developments in the 1960s; Propulsion for the 1970s and 1980s; International Thrusts in Launch Vehicle Propulsion. Part 3 Solid Propulsion: Modern Developments in Solid-Propellant Rocket Engineering; The Outlook for Solid Rocket Motors; Solid Rocket Motors Aim for Deep Space; ASRM - Turning in a Solid Performance. Part 4 Solid-Liquid Hybrid Propulsion: Hybrid Propulsion Systems; Hybrid Rockets - Combining the Best of Liquids and Solids. Part 5 Propellants: Propellants for Tomorrow's Rockets; Liquid Rocket Propellants - Is There an Energy Limit?; Solid Propellants and the Conquest of Space; Notes on Problems in Combustion Instability of Rocket Motors; Instability in Solid Rockets; New Horizons in Chemical Propulsion. Part 6 Nuclear Rockets: Nuclear Rocketry - the First Bright Hopes; Advanced Reactor Concepts for Nuclear Propulsion; Solid-Core Nuclear-Rocket Design; Gaseous-Core Nuclear Rockets; Boundary Conditions for Nuclear Propulsion; Prospects for Advanced High-Thrust Nuclear Propulsion; Where the Carrot Does Not Improve Vision-Nuclear Energy for Space; NERVA-Entering a New Phase; What's Holding Nuclear Propulsion Back?; Nuclear Thermal Rockets - Key to Moon-Mars Exploration; US/CIS Eye Joint Nuclear Rocket Venture. Part 7 Electric Propulsion: The Road from Monterey; Primary Electric Propulsion Technology; Electric Microthrusters Make It; Electric Propulsion - the Future is Now. Part 8 Space Power: Space Electrical Power-Quo Vadis?; High Power for Space Systems; Nuclear Reactors for Space Power. Part 9 Advanced Concepts: Propulsion to Orbit by Ground-Based Lasers; Laser Propulsion; Tether Propulsion; Advanced Propulsion on a Shoestring.